DJI Air 3S Drone With 1 Inch Sensor - 50MP Wide Camera And 45 Minute Flight Time
Published on 09/19/2026 at 11:21 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
DJI Air 3S is DJI's mid range camera drone that adds a 50MP wide angle camera with a 1 inch CMOS sensor to the proven Air 3 platform, targeting enthusiast aerial photographers who want more dynamic range and detail without carrying a heavy rig.
Camera Upgrade And Imaging Specs
The core change in DJI Air 3S compared with the earlier Air 3 is the wide angle camera: it now uses a 1 inch CMOS sensor with 50MP effective resolution, paired with a 24mm equivalent lens and an f/1.8 aperture, designed to deliver higher dynamic range and cleaner low light images than the 1/1.3 inch, 48MP sensor in the standard Air 3.Official Air 3S specs The companion medium tele camera keeps a 1/1.3 inch CMOS sensor with 48MP effective pixels and a 70mm equivalent focal length at f/2.8, giving a 3x optical zoom for compressed perspective and portrait style shots from the air.Review camera details
On the video side, DJI Air 3S records up to 4K at frame rates up to 120 fps with 10 bit HLG and D Log M color profiles, offering more flexibility for grading and HDR workflows than simple 8 bit profiles.HLG and D Log M video Internal storage increases to 48GB, supplemented by a microSD slot, which is useful for longer shooting days when high bitrate 4K footage can quickly fill memory.Storage capacity and slot
Flight Performance, Weight And Safety
DJI Air 3S has a quoted takeoff weight of 724g, placing it comfortably above the 250g threshold that triggers registration requirements for recreational flying in many jurisdictions, including the US.Weight and dimensions Physical dimensions are listed as approximately 214.19 x 100.63 x 89.17 mm when folded without propellers, and 266.11 x 325.47 x 106.00 mm when unfolded without propellers, remaining backpack friendly while allowing the larger sensor and battery.Folded and unfolded size
The aircraft's maximum flight time is quoted as up to 45 minutes in idealized forward flight conditions, with hovering endurance listed at about 41 minutes, reflecting the slightly higher weight and capacity battery compared with Air 3's 46 minute maximum.Flight time figures Transmission range is stated as up to 20km under FCC regulations, using the O4 transmission system, which is the same range as Air 3 but paired with updated obstacle sensing, including omnidirectional vision sensors and a refined Smart RTH that can account for obstacles during automatic return.Transmission and obstacle sensing
DJI Air 3S Official Product Overview
DJI provides full technical specifications, feature lists and accessory details for DJI Air 3S on its dedicated product page.
Controllers, Pricing And Kits
DJI Air 3S is offered with different controller options, starting with the RC N3 remote that uses the pilot's smartphone as a display, and extending to the RC 2 remote with a built in screen for brighter outdoor viewing.Controller and bundle options A typical US price point at launch is cited as $1,099 for the DJI Air 3S with RC N3 controller, with a Fly More Combo including extra batteries and accessories priced around $1,399 with RC N3 and $1,599 with RC 2, showing a clear premium over the standard Air 3 but adding the larger sensor wide camera and expanded storage.Launch pricing tiers
Air 3S Compared With Air 3
When comparing DJI Air 3S with DJI Air 3, the most quantified differences are in the imaging and endurance specs: Air 3 uses dual 1/1.3 inch, 48MP sensors on both wide and tele cameras, while Air 3S upgrades the wide camera to a 1 inch, 50MP sensor while keeping the tele camera at 1/1.3 inch, 48MP.Air 3 spec sheetAir 3S spec sheet Flight time shifts from a quoted maximum of 46 minutes on Air 3 to 45 minutes on Air 3S, while takeoff weight increases from about 720g to 724g, so pilots trade a small amount of endurance for improved image quality and internal storage.
Positioning And Use Cases
Within DJI's broader lineup, DJI Air 3S sits between lighter sub 250g drones and heavier Mavic 3 series aircraft, appealing to pilots who want an integrated 1 inch sensor wide camera, 3x tele camera and roughly 45 minute flight time at a mid range price point around $1,099 for the base kit. For US recreational flyers and Part 107 commercial operators focused on landscape, travel and real estate work, the combination of dual cameras, omnidirectional obstacle sensing and O4 transmission makes Air 3S a capable tool, while the modest increase in weight and cost over Air 3 highlights its role as an imaging focused upgrade rather than a completely new platform.
Key Specs And Details
- Product: DJI Air 3S with RC N3 controller
- Manufacturer: DJI
- Category: Camera drone (consumer)
- Model designation: DJI Air 3S, wide camera 1 inch CMOS, tele camera 1/1.3 inch CMOS
- Takeoff weight: 724g quoted aircraft weight
- Maximum flight time: Up to 45 minutes forward flight, about 41 minutes hovering
- Maximum video resolution: 4K up to 120 fps with 10 bit color profiles
- Price: $1,099 with RC N3 controller at launch (as of 10/15/2024)
- Target audience: Enthusiast and semi pro aerial photographers and videographers
